Still Life – Roses

Still Life – Roses

Still Life Roses

Jake, with his Sunday Post: Arrangement, inspired me to do something I have been putting off for several months, create and photograph a still life image of a dried arrangement of roses. The roses have been patiently sitting atop my refrigerator for some time reminding me daily that it wants its portrait made. And I have had an itch to create a series of still life images, something new for me to explore.

I am finding the challenge is two fold: to create an interesting composition with the things in your still life and then light the subject in such a way to enhance the mood or feeling you are trying to create. So far, the lighting has proved to be the most difficult.

Ron Mayhew

Fine Art Photographer specializing in Still Life and Commercial Photography.

This Post Has 36 Comments

  1. Well, the effect is beautiful, Ron 🙂

      1. reflecting on the above comment, i realized that ‘important’ was not the best choice of words. the roses are more related to the word, ‘symbolism.’

        1. Lisa, I know and appreciate what you meant. Actually, the flowers were from her birthday party in early November. Nonetheless symbolic.

          1. how wonderful – from her party! of all of the things i associate with my father’s last days…. try figs! funny story – he died in july when the figs were ripe, and his lifelong friend said, ‘your father wouldn’t like that we were letting these go to waste..’ so for hours we peeled figs, and every fifteen minutes or so doc would poke a fig in my mouth. after about 8 or so, i said, ‘if my stomach is sick tomorrow, it’s your fault…’

            every time i see a fig tree, i am back in that last july of my father’s life.

            i’m glad that you have lovely roses to remember her last birthday. daddy lived about two weeks past his final birthday as well.

            z

            1. Mom lived about six weeks past her ninetieth. If she were with us she would be painting the roses. In fact, you and her have a lot in common. Art was her life. Please pass the Fig Newtons.

  2. And become a masterpiece image Ron ,unique for a wall large photo 🙂

    1. Jake, you are too kind, though I am thinking about printing it. Thanks.

  3. I can’t agree more with you about the lighting and you have done very well with your still life images. Very nice composition as well. 🙂

    1. Thanks. Every time I do one I learn a little more.

  4. Just wondering which camera was used?

    1. I used my Nikon D300s and 50mm f1.4. I also shoot with a Lumix gh3

  5. Very nice composition. Yes, lighting is the main challenge in still life’s. Have you tried painting with light?

    1. Not yet. I have a small LED light but haven’t tried it yet. That’s next.

  6. I really like the color tones in this photo – the goldens of the roses and stool against the greys of the vase and background.

    1. Thank you Carol. I was taken by the soft colors of the roses too. That’s why they didn’t end up in the trash.

    1. Yes, in more ways than you know. Thanks for commenting.

    1. I did not intend for it to be sad, simply a remembrance. Thanks you Jo.

      1. That’s the beauty of images, Ron. They speak to us in different ways.

  7. Very beautiful and poignant Ron.

  8. I think it is beautiful! And I DO love the light you got…It is like looking at a Renaissance Italian painting…I agree: you should print it!

    1. Thank you so much. I am thinking about shooting it again and hopefully improve on the lighting and then print it for sure.

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